Add healthy eating and exercise to your to-do list at work

Jun. 14, 2013

Written by

Susan Ricker

CareerBuilder

Summer has become an annual time for Americans to check in with their health and fitness levels and determine whether their bodies are “beach ready.”

But for more than half (55 percent) of workers who consider themselves to be overweight, it may be more preferable to spend time in the office than on the beach.

In a CareerBuilder survey of more than 3,600 full-time workers, 41 percent report that they have gained weight at their present jobs, with 59 percent of those workers putting on more than 10 pounds and 30 percent gaining more than 20 pounds. Conversely, 16 percent of all workers say they’ve lost weight while at their current job.

“Weight gain at work often comes from a combination of poor eating habits when you’re on the go and not being able to fit a workout into a busy schedule,” says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “Two in five workers don’t exercise on a regular basis and one in ten don’t exercise at all. Whether it’s daily walks with a co-worker or taking advantage of company wellness benefits, it’s important to find a way to stay active.”

Roles that are most likely to report weight gain

Professions that induce high stress levels or require long hours behind a desk often have a higher percentage of workers putting on extra pounds. Among those most likely to report weight gain:

• Administrative assistant (69 percent)

• Engineer (56 percent)

• Teacher/instructor K-12 (51 percent)

• Nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant (51 percent)

• Information technology manager/network administrator (51 percent)

• Attorney/judge/legal professional (48 percent)

• Machine operator/assembly/production worker (45 percent)

• Scientist, biological/physical/social (39 percent)

Weight gain and loss efforts

Sedentary roles, readily available junk food and time constraints that lead to unhealthy eating habits can make it tough to stay fit. The most commonly reported reasons for weight gain at work are sitting at a desk most of the day, eating because of stress and eating out regularly.

Workers are combating weight gain with exercise: 59 percent of workers report that they work out on a regular basis, with 45 percent hitting the gym at least three times a week. And companies are getting behind their efforts.

Three in 10 workers say their companies provide wellness benefits such as workout facilities or gym passes. Of these workers, 36 percent take advantage of the offered benefits.

In addition to maintaining a healthy diet and steady workout routine during the workweek, there are plenty of smaller ways to make your health a priority. Walk everywhere you can during the day, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and pack a lunch instead of ordering out.

If you stay consistent, your efforts will produce results that you can see and feel.

— Susan Ricker is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, TheWorkBuzz.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.